Dike construction



- Aug. 2, 1932. G. G. wEHR 1,870,154

BIKE CONSTRUCTION Filed neo. 1a, 1929 Iier Mie r' IeUeL Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNTED STATES @FF GEORGE G. WEER, OF P'HILADELPHA, PENNSYLVANLA DIKE CONSTRUCTION Application led December 18, 1929.

My invention relates to a new and useful dike construction or break-water adapt/ed particularly for reclaiminglowland or partly submerged land.

My invention further relates to a novel construction in dikes or break-waters or the like, whereby the same may be laid or oonstruoted submerged in water with great facility and ease and at minimum cost, and

le, whereby durable and efficient breakwater or seawall is produced.

With the above ends in view, my invention consists in permanently and securely interlocking and interconnecting a series of shiplhulls end to end, to form a iirm and durable wall.

My invention further consists in recessina` the stern overhang of each ship-hull, Sudiciently to permit the bow of the adjacent 29 ship-hull to be abutted against the stern post of the ship-hull, thereby forming a tongue and groove connection between adjacent ship-hulls, and then fastening` the stern of one ship hull to the bow of the other ship-hull by means of suitable planking.

My invention further consists of other novel details of construction to be described more in detail hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating my inven- 3() tion I have shown in the accompanyingv drawing` one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawing; in which like reference characters indicate like parts7 Figure l represents a vertical sectional view of land which is to be reclaimed and the relation of the dike or break-water thereto of my novel construction.

Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the saine.

Figure 3 represents a side elevation of the bow of one ship-hull and the stern of the adjacent ship-hull united into a dike of my novel construction.

Figure l represents a top plan view of the same. Y

rEhe object as stated herein above, is to re-il claim land by means of a sea-wall, dike or L break-water, or to form such sea-wall, dike or break-water for any other purpose for which the saine may be utilized. ln the parh d ticular illustration shown in Figures l andr@y 2 the dike is built for the reclamation of land. @ld ship-hulls., preferably wooden shiphulls 5, are out away at the stern overhang 6 thereof, by cuttinfr a generally V-shapedM notch into said stern overhang' up to the/i5? stern post 7. 1i-

The ship-hull is then loaded with any suitable material, such as rocks or refuse and floated into position. The thus loaded and positioned ship-hull is then sunk into position I by opening the sea-gate or the like and admitting water thereinto. The next ship-hull, similarly out away at the stern overhang,

is similarly loaded and floated in positionh with the bow in alignment with the stern over- I 55 hang of the previously lowered ship-hull. It

is then sunk in position in line with the previously lowered hull in such a way that the bow 8 enters the il-shaped notch 9 out into, the stern overhang` of the previously lowered ship-hull. Planks l0 are then secured to the adjacent bow and stern portions as indicated in Figures 3 and 4 by suitable spikes or the like. rlhe planking l0 may be entendl ed clear to the bottom so as to clase the opening' between adjacent ship-hulls.

By this means a continuous line or chain of ship-hulls may be firmly united, with adjacent ship-hulls interlocked with each other in' tongue and groove fashion and also united with each other by permanent fastenings such as the planks 10. lThe line or chain of shiphulls shown particularly in Figure 2, then forms a wall which may form the basis of '95 the reclamation of the land within the wall or which may serve any other purpose desired.

ln the practice of my invention I may em- I ploy old dismantled ship-hulls. The shiph ulls may be loaded with any suitable 1naterial available at the particular time.

I am aware that my invention may be einbodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Leters Patent, is:

l. The mehod of building diles, which consists in cutting aA notch in the stern overhang of ship-hulls, placing al series of said notched ship-hulls end to end in line formation to form a dike, with the bow of each successive ship-hull inserted into the notch in the stern overhang of the adjacent shipdiull, thereby to form a tongue and groove-like connection between adjacent ship hulls,

2. The method of building dikes, which consists in cutting a notch in the stern overhang of ship-hulls, placing a series of said notched ship-hulls end to end in line formation to form a dike, with the bow of each successive ship-hull inserted into the notch in the stern overhang of the adjacent ship-hull, thereby to form a tongue and groove-like connection between adjacent shiphulls, and securing planking or the like across the adjacent ends of the ship-hulls to close the clearance space therebetween.

3. The method of building dilres, which consists in cutting a. notch in the stern overhang of a series of ship-hulls, loading said ship-hulls with any suitable ballast, sinking said series of ship-hulls in position one after the other, and in the desired alignment with each other, with the bow of each ship-hull positioned and fitted within the notch in the stern overhang of the previously lowered ship-hull.

4. The method of building dikes, which consists in cutting a notch in the stern overhang of a series of ship-hulls, loading said ship-hulls with any suitable ballast, sinking said series of ship-hulls in position one after the other, and in the desired alignment with each other, with the bow of each ship-hull positioned and tted within the notch in the stern overhang of the previously lowered ship-hull` and lastly securing planking across the adjacent ends of the successive ship-hulls permanently to unite the same.

5. A dike, break-water or sea-wall or the like, consisting of a line of ship-hulls positicned end to end and suitably ballasted, the stern overhang of each ship-hull being notched and the bow of each ship-hull being positioned in the notch of the adjacent shiphull in tongue and groove fashion.

6. A dike. break-water or sea-wall or the like, consisting of a line of ship-hulls positioned end to end and suitably ballasted, the stern overhang of each ship-hull being notched and the bow of each ship-hull being positioned in the notch of the adjacent shiphull in tongue and groove fashion, and planking secured across the adjacent ends of the line of ship-hulls to enclose the clearance space therebetween and permanently to unite the same.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

GEO. G. WEHR. 

